Perennials By Julie Cantrell

Eva Sutherland—known to all as Lovey—grew up safe and secure in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by a rich literary history and her mother’s stunning flower gardens. But a shed fire, and the injuries it caused, changed everything. Her older sister, Bitsy, blamed Lovey for the irreparable damage. Bitsy became the homecoming queen and the perfect Southern belle who could do no wrong. All the while, Lovey served as the family scapegoat, always bearing the brunt when Bitsy threw blame her way.
At eighteen, suffocating in her sister’s shadow, Lovey turned down a marriage proposal and fled to Arizona. Free from Bitsy’s vicious lies, she became a successful advertising executive and a weekend yoga instructor, carving a satisfying life for herself. But at forty-five, Lovey is feeling more alone than ever and questioning the choices that led her here.
When her father calls insisting she come home three weeks early for her parents’ 50th anniversary, Lovey is at her wits’ end. She’s about to close the biggest contract of her career, and there’s a lot on the line. But despite the risks, her father’s words, “Family First,” draw her back to the red-dirt roads of Mississippi.
Lovey is drawn in to a secret project—a memory garden her father has planned as an anniversary surprise. As she helps create this sacred space, Lovey begins to rediscover her roots, learning how to live perennially in spite of life’s many trials and tragedies.
Years ago, Lovey chose to leave her family and the South far behind. But now that she’s returned, she’s realizing things at home were not always what they seemed.

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https://www.amazon.com/Perennials-Julie-Cantrell/dp/0718037642/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1518112976&sr=1-1

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, Julie Cantrell is known for writing inspirational novels that explore the hard truths women typically keep secret. While she delves into emotional issues, she does so with a compassionate and open heart, always bringing readers through to a hopeful path for peace, empathy, and healing.

Julie's debut novel, Into the Free (2012, David C Cook), earned a rare starred review by Publishers Weekly, became an international bestseller, and received two Christy Awards and the Mississippi Library Association Fiction Award. It spent three weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists (both print and e-book), made the USA TODAY Top 150, and was listed as a top read of the year by LifeWay and USA TODAY.

The sequel, When Mountains Move (2014, David C Cook), received the ACFW Carol Award for Historical Fiction, made many best read lists, and was again named a top read of the year by both USA TODAY and LifeWay Christian Stores.

Her third novel, The Feathered Bone (January, 2016, HarperCollins/TNZ), was chosen Book of the Year by the largest bookclub in the world (Pulpwood Queens) and was selected as a Top Read by Library Journal. It is currently a finalist for both a Carol and an INSPY award, and is set in Louisiana where Julie spent her childhood.

Perennials (November, 2017, HarperCollins/TNZ) is Julie's fourth novel. Another work of Southern fiction, this story is set in her current community of Oxford, Mississippi, a literary mecca for many writers and readers. The story explores themes of family relationships, the seasons of life, and the search for a place called home.

A speech-language pathologist and literacy advocate, Julie was honored to receive the 2012 Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship. She also received the 2016 Mary Elizabeth Nelson Fellowship at Rivendell Writer's Colony, which is awarded to a writer who encourages spiritual growth, healing, and care through his or her work.

Julie and her two children now live in Oxford, Mississippi where they spent six years operating Valley House Farm, a sustainable organic farmstead, before moving into a new adventure.

Learn more:
Website: www.juliecantrell.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliecantrellauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JulieCantrell

My Thoughts...

A Perennial kind of love...
Southern style, Life lesson with the greatest being love, all in one book. Why yes, I think I will devour this book in one sitting thank you.
I was hooked from the very first chapter.
I think all of you readers that are fans of southern fiction are going to agree with me on this one.
I will warn you there is mention of Buddhist in this book and those of us that are secure in our Christian walk with be fine with this.
If you are a new Christian and have a lot of questions and your just not sure yet, this may not be a book for you!
I gave this book 4 stars.
  The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.